The Trees of Life

A Community Blog

Happy Wednesday, my dear friends. I want to begin this week by saying thank you for your time. Time is such a strange, precious gift, isn’t it? We can’t hold onto it, we can’t create more of it, and we can’t pause it when a moment feels sweet. We can only lose it, waste it, or make the absolute most of it.
When you live with a physical disability like mine, time often feels like it moves in a completely different gear. There is rarely true spontaneity in my day. Every outing, task, or movement requires careful planning—either by me or by the dedicated caregivers and loved ones in my life. Some days, if I’m being completely honest, I feel like a tree: growing and reaching, yet planted in the exact same spot without moving. It’s not always the ideal feeling, but I remain deeply thankful for this life and the perspective it brings.

Some people look at my daily routine from the outside and assume it must be a living nightmare. I’ll never forget walking through a mall years ago when a father saw me look toward his child. He leaned down and whispered loudly enough for me to hear: “Thank God you’re not like them,” referring to my twin brother and me.
While my pride was stung in that brief second, my heart quickly turned to sympathy for that man. What a heavy way to spend precious time—living in fear, judgment, and worry. Life possesses its own rhythms, seasons, and divine purposes that none of us can fully comprehend or control. Just as a tree grows vertically toward the sky while rooted, our spirits are meant to grow upward, regardless of whether our physical bodies are moving across a room.

In John 12:8, scripture reminds us of the fleeting nature of our presence here on Earth. It’s easy for society to look right past the tree because it sits quietly in one place. But quietly standing still doesn’t mean standing without purpose

It would be wonderful if I could always hop on here and blog about grand adventures, jet-setting trips, or endless highlight reels. But that isn’t my daily reality, and it isn’t the daily reality for most of us. Most of my days are spent right here in front of my tablet or laptop, managing my calendar, hosting Zoom calls, writing, and organizing advocacy work.
We all strive for a life filled with constant joy and extraordinary memories. That’s a beautiful goal, but fulfillment isn’t built only on special occasions—it’s built in the ordinary, everyday moments.

I always get a little reflective when I hear people say they’re bored. In our modern world, we are surrounded by choices and opportunities for how we spend our energy. It’s easy to feel trapped by jobs, bills, or routines, but time and perspective belong to us.

@theadvocacylifepodcastat

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We have all felt like “trees” at one time or another—feeling stuck, unmoving, or overlooked. But remember what trees actually do for the world: without their oxygen, we cannot survive, and without our carbon dioxide, they cannot thrive. We are inextricably linked to one another.
Your life may not be perfect—truthfully, it never will be on this side of heaven. But you can choose to be fully aware of how you steward your spirit, your life, and your time.
Thank you, as always, for sharing your valuable time with me. Let’s make every moment count this week! Keep on rolling, keep on living.